Maungatautari Kiwi Blog

Maungatautari Kiwi Blog is about a visit to the Maungatautari Island Ecological Trust predator free enclosure in May 2010. If you are looking for more information about me and the many walks provided by Kaimai New Zealand Tours please visit my About Us page.

Photo by Phil Brown,
Maungatautari volunteer

One Saturday recently I was privileged to be able to join the volunteer guides at Maungatautari. I just love going to this sanctuary as the native bird populations are increasing all the time. This time we were lucky enough to see a 7 month old kiwi chick being weighed, measured and fitted with a transmitter.

The group sat very quietly while the scientific work was carried out, then some of us were allowed to touch or hold the kiwi. It was only brief, but an experience I shall cherish for a long time.

The kiwis are doing well in Maungatautari’s pest free southern enclosure. The team at the Maungatautari Island Ecological Trust have eradicated all introduced species from this area - even the mice! So there are more invertebrates here for the kiwi to feed on than in most places in NZ, where there is competition from the introduced mammals. Here at Maungatautari there is no competition and no predation on the native birds - and they are thriving.

Almost all the work here is done by volunteers, but money is needed for the equipment. If you have anything to donate, then this sanctuary is worthy of your money. To find out more about the content of my Maungatautari Kiwi Blog post visit the Maungatautari website: Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust

Background

Maungatautari is a 3,400 hectare forest project with the purpose of reintroducing New Zealand wildlife back to it's natural environment within several pest free enclosures. Located in the Waikato basin between Te Awamutu and Putaruru, and Cambridge, central North Island, the pest proof fence is also having a positive effect on the re growing flora along the track edges, it is now looking very lush and populated with native shrubs.

The Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust web site will give you more detailed information on their work.

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Written by Kea Lippiatt.